A scientific and cultural event commemorating the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was held at the School of Public Health on November 17, 2025 concurrently with the global events taking place in multiple countries. This ceremony is held every year on the third Sunday of November worldwide, and SSU joined this campaign to contribute to raising public awareness and reducing fatalities.
The event was organized by the Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters in collaboration with the Vice-Presidency for Health Affairs and Vice-Presidency for Cultural and Student Affairs of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd.
At the beginning of the program, candles were lit, followed by a one-minute silence in honor of the 385 people who lost their lives in road traffic accidents in Yazd Province last year.
Dr. Mohammadreza Khajehaminian, Head of the Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, referring to Iran’s unfavorable status in traffic-accident fatality rates, stated that traffic accidents were the leading cause of death among individuals aged 5 to 29 — a group that represents the future of society. “Each person who dies is not merely a statistic; it is a human life full of dreams, talents, and potential that is tragically lost. These incidents have taken on the dimensions of a pandemic at the global level, and every year over a million talented young individuals with bright futures fall victim to them.”, he added.
He noted that the School of Public Health lost four of its students to such tragic incidents last year, and that this event was held to honor their memory and raise public awareness about the importance of responsible driving.
Colonel Dastvar, the Chief of Yazd Traffic Police, reported relative decrease in accident and fatality statistics in recent years. “Despite this decline, a significant portion of accidents still involve motorcyclists, pedestrians, and young people. Promoting safe driving culture and adherence to safety principles can play a key role in prevention.”, he added.
Dr. Mirjalili, the director of the provincial EMS (Emergency Medical Services 115), presented a report on daily calls and operations, stating: “Between 750 to 800 calls are made to the EMS center daily, resulting in about 250 missions. A considerable number of these involve traffic accidents.” He emphasized the importance of public education, targeted interventions, and early cultural promotion, adding that training elementary school children in basic emergency concepts is part of their programs to cultivate essential skills and awareness from a young age.
Naser Dehghani, Director General of the Office of Technical Affairs of Yazd Governorate, emphasized that cooperation among all organizations and changes in drivers’ behavior are essential conditions for reducing road fatalities, noting that no program can succeed without public contribution.
Dr. Ali Dehghani, as the Dean of the School of Public Health and Professor of Epidemiology, presented a global analysis of traffic accident statistics. He identified risk factors such as risky driving behaviors, poor-quality infrastructure, low vehicle safety, and weak law enforcement, stressing the need for effective interventions, continuous monitoring, and infrastructure improvements.
Also Dr. Samaneh Mirzaei, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters presented a data analysis of road traffic accidents mortality in Yazd province over the past decade.
In the main part of the program, Mr. Montazer, Head of the Secretariat of the Provincial Traffic Coordination Council, conducted a one-hour training session on 20 essential principles of defensive driving, accompanied by real crash footage. The session was highly impactful and deeply moving; the audience was strongly affected by the shocking and heartbreaking scenes from actual accidents. He discussed and compared Iranian traffic regulations and driver behaviors with those of other countries. He emphasized that strengthening training and promoting a proper driving culture are key strategies for reducing accidents.
At the end of the ceremony, four students gave short talks, sharing memories of their lost friends. Also outstanding contributors and active members of organizations involved in managing traffic incidents from the Emergency Medical Services Organization (EMS), Iranian Red Crescent Society, Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, Road Police and Traffic Police, and Firefighting Organization were honored, highlighting the importance of multisectoral collaboration.
Finally, in memory of the four SSU students who lost their lives in traffic accidents last year, four cypress saplings were planted as symbols of remembrance and respect.
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